The Subag phenomenon, which takes fashion across borders

Susana Pais, producer of Subag bags

It all started with a modest physical space, which was both a tea room and a sewing studio.

The adventures of Susana Pais, a social worker and the creative mind behind the Subag project, have begun with fabrics and threads for as long as she can remember. She sews her bags with an incomparable passion. The care with which she passes the thread through the needle gives any piece a special touch.

This is a passion that Subag breathes so strongly that you can feel it from the moment you enter their store and realize how unique these pieces are. The gentle touch and the way in which they produce their art make this producer a true fashion reference in the Sintra region.

Her love of handicrafts has been with her since she was very young. Today, she transforms suitcases and backpacks into elegance. Into something unique. Subag is a business with roots in Sintra, which will continue as long as there is passion.

Art born in the family

Susana Pais sewing a backpack

It was on a rustic Singer machine, kept at her grandmother's house, that Susana, at just six years old, learned the oldest secrets of sewing. Her grandmother lovingly taught her an art that has endured to this day.

Susana grew up making cross-stitch, crochet, knitwear and arraiolos, nurturing her creativity and skills over the years without ever losing heart. Only in this way is she able to create the magnificent pieces that characterize her project so well.

Although this taste was nurtured when she was still very young, it was when Susana took part in a workshop, where she learned how to make a simple coin purse, that she realized how much skill still ran through her veins. Combined with her willpower and love for the art of sewing, she has perfected her technique over the years.

When she received a sewing machine as a gift from her husband, she never went a day without sewing. And that's how she started producing the magnificent pieces we find in the Sintra region.

The growing demand for her pieces led Susana to open her own store. It's at Subag that we can touch the fabrics and see in the final pieces the emotion and care that go into making them.

This emotion in producing so many pieces mirrors the pride that comes with being part of a region as rich as Sintra and with so much to offer. All this is visible in their authentic productions, as well as in the respect with which they treat each order.

Susana begins her "cutting and sewing" at the end of each day. The social worker dedicates the usual eight hours a day to her profession, but when the clock strikes 5:30 p.m., Susana sits down at the machine and produces her authentic, high-quality bags, backpacks and lunchboxes. Made in Sintra quality.

The world is your audience

Threads used to sew bags, backpacks and lunchboxes together

Expectedly, these pieces don't just exist in Sintra. Subag bags travel all over the world via social networks, where customers can see the variety of products that the Made in Sintra brand has.

In fact, it was through this positioning on platforms such as Facebook that Subag's bags began to become better known and to win over audiences around the world.

Around 10% of Subag customers are foreigners. Authenticity knows no borders or barriers.

Sintra can now be found anywhere in the world. France, Italy, England and the United States of America are just a few examples of places where Subag is already part of the homes of those who bet on personalized fashion.

What sets Subag apart is personalization

Different types of fabric for suitcase production

With around 1000 suitcases already produced over the years, Susana understands that each client has a unique vision of the products, and it is precisely this challenge that, in the end, makes these pieces the most authentic.

"I was once asked to make a garment with yellow and brown fabrics. And even though I didn't like the combination, I didn't hesitate."

For Susana, fashion has no holds barred and so no challenge is turned down. Her commitment to exceeding the expectations of those who seek her out is always present.

An idea always makes the process of creating a bag, backpack or lunchbox easier. But the process of creating the pattern, carefully cutting out the fabrics and meticulously assembling them, ensuring that the piece is perfect and with the seams on the inside, is a process that she sees as relaxing and, above all, exciting.

Each piece is an expression of love

Susana Pais' hands manipulating fabric

Each Subag piece is a work of art with characteristics that are unique in the world, carefully crafted to delight and surprise anyone.

A suitcase, the result of hours of meticulous craftsmanship, comes to life in just sixty minutes. A lunchbox, with all its details, requires an hour and forty-five minutes of dedication. And backpacks, true manifestations of creativity, require two hours of inspiration. Passion for creation and a personal touch are the essence of this Made in Sintra product.

Despite the constant demand, there is often a need to have more than two arms to speed up production. However, while the producer is tempted to seek help from other arms, she is unable to take the business away from her family, the cradle of its creation, in the fantastic region of Sintra.

It's a passion that can be felt through the threads and fabrics that pass through the hands of the producer and into the hands of their customers. From these products we can expect everything that is most genuine and personalized, with the usual authenticity. Authenticity Made in Sintra.

Find out more about Subag here